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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: I should increase our health,materials,and energy sectors.Could you give me a few suggestions.I plan to sell Spectra Energy (SE-N) and Power Financial (PWF-T) in the new year to make the purchases.
Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by James on December 07, 2015
Q: I have noticed that in some stocks there is significant exercise by insiders of options. I am wondering if this is because of statements made by the Liberals in the election about taxing options of high income earners. I would appreciate you thoughts.
Read Answer Asked by wendy on December 07, 2015
Q: I am down 16% on DH and down 20% on TFI. What are your thoughts on averaging down on these stocks? I am thinking stock-loss selling may represent an opportunity. Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by Barrie on December 06, 2015
Q: I purchased some names to start building the growth portfolio about a year ago.
I started with CXI, DHX, PHM, PUR all are in a position of retreat, I now plan to add another name, is there a particular name you would suggest adding at this time.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on December 06, 2015
Q: Earlier this week, Frances Horodelski mentioned the large number of short positions which exist on the CAD and few other currencies. Almost unprecedented levels. The suggestion from one of her guests is that, under these conditions, a significant and sudden reversal of the CAD against the USD could happen.

Would you agree with that? i.e. on both the reversal and the magnitude?

If this happened would it likely last for a while or more likely be a pop and drop scenario?

Thanks for your opinion on this.
Read Answer Asked by Donald on December 04, 2015
Q: <I>December 03, 2015 (asked by Desmond)

Question: I would like your opinion on Saputo, would it be a buy at this time. Thanks for all the great information this year.

5i Research Answer:
Saputo is not overly exciting, but in this market that is not a bad thing. Good earnings growth is expected over the next two years, but it does have a fairly weak record of meeting estimates. Its business is fairly secure and its balance sheet is 'OK'. It is buying back stock, and at 21X earnings is a bit expensive. Over the past 15 years the stock is up nearly 10-fold, and we would be comfortable with a long term position.</I>



I have to mostly disagree with your response to Desmond regarding SAP. Or at least the tone I extracted from your response.

How could SAP not be anything but exciting if a person is looking to make money? Unless they "play" stocks for excitement as in gambling and look only at short term fun.

If SAP has been almost a 10 bagger in 15 years that is a 16.5%/annum return plus a constant growing dividend. An original investment of say, $100,000 would now be approx. $1,000,000. A profit of $900,000! Most people and retail investors would love to have that big a profit both $ wise and % wise as most never produce that in a life time.

I am an investor who does not care if a company meets estimates! So what? Who cares other than the media? Without insider information is not an estimate just that? An estimate, a guess?What matters is the question, "Is the company growing itself, revenue and free cashflow...properly and in a sustainable way?"

I find SAP to be exciting in the short term because I can sleep at night knowing I do not have to monitor it daily/weekly and it should continue to make me money as I sleep with a growing dividend income stream for my future retirement days. Just like CNR, ENB, BNS....

Have a great day.

Stan
Read Answer Asked by Stan (1) on December 04, 2015
Q: Last week I added to the following positions in my non-registered:

DSG, AYA, ATD.B, CCL.B, WSP, TCN, BCE and FTS.

Because the market is so volatile I only bought half of what I want in each with plans to buy the other half by the end of December.

Should I take advantage of yesterday's drop and buy the rest now or wait until the day after the fed announces the rate increase? Do you think there will be a small drop after this increase?

My other option is to put lower bids in that are good for the next thirty days and see what I get.
Read Answer Asked by Carla on December 04, 2015
Q: I would like your opinion on Saputo, would it be a buy at this time. Thanks for all the great information this year.
Read Answer Asked by Desmond on December 03, 2015
Q: Hi Peter
I am thinking of tax loss . I am down quite a bit on this company and trying to recoup with tax loss . High Artic energy ,Peyto and Shawcor are also candidates for a tax loss .which would you let go ? Or should I dump my preferred enbrige shares ? Do any of these have hope in the near future ?
Candi
Read Answer Asked by Candi on December 03, 2015
Q: Hi team

Could have your take on ai

Thanks Mike B
Read Answer Asked by Mike on December 03, 2015
Q: Hi team:
this went up today past the $ 3 mark, is there any news accountable for it ? thanks

Read Answer Asked by Michael on December 02, 2015
Q: The proof's in the pudding. Canadian Business magazine in the most recent issue named CEO Bruce Flatt #94 wealthiest Canadian and director Jack Cockwell #98. These guys are there because they have over 90% of their assets in BAM stock. Other directors and officers including Blidner and Lawson have lots of skin in the game too.
My hunch is Flatt (he's only 50 y.o.) and company will be moving up the ranks in years to come, and my money's with them. The Seeking Alpha article is fluff to put it politely.
Read Answer Asked by Jeff on December 02, 2015
Q: FSV all the stock does is go up. Is it too late to buy back in? I removed it when 5 i did.
Read Answer Asked by blake on December 02, 2015
Q: Hi Team

I noted your comment to Shyam on Dec 1st regarding Google. In the tech sector would you see Google or our own CSU as being the preferred choice for a long term hold?

Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Peter on December 02, 2015
Q: Hello Peter & Co,
I usually consult the coverage summary to verify the ratings; but I'm intrigued by the data you also provide eg (1) start date, meaning when? (2) monthly returns...from when? P&L 2015 or total...profit and loss? Perhaps you could provide an explanatory note.
Thanks,
Antoine
Read Answer Asked by Antoine on December 02, 2015
Q: Dear 5i,

BAM, BIP and BPY possess many of the characteristics that appeal to me. However, I found a couple of Seeking Alpha analyses that raised doubts for me. Inter alia, the analyses say that:

- BAM has an amazingly complex and constantly changing capital structure that makes the company unanalyzable and maybe vulnerable to manipulation
- an undisclosed SEC probe was found
- prior criminal exposure remains unresolved.
- BAM has a pyramidal control structure which US regulators have long frowned upon. This type of structure lets a small group of mostly hidden owners exercise control disproportionate to their investment.
- the business model involves heavy reliance on related party transactions with subsidiaries
- net income comes mostly from accounting entries rather than business activity
- the SEC has publically questioned how BAM uses investment terms and its valuation methodology

Would you invest your money in BAM, BIP or BPY? If so, in your opinion, what is the level of risk in an investment in one of these companies?
Read Answer Asked by Cam on December 02, 2015